Opposition: gov't should keep fighting refugee quotas

ČTK |

30 September 2015

Prague, Sept 29 (CTK) - The Czech centre-left government of Bohuslav Sobotka (Social Democrats, CSSD) should keep fighting the refugee quotas, the opposition Communist Party (KSCM) and Civic Democratic Party (ODS) told journalists before a lower house session yesterday.
KSCM lower house group head Jiri Dolejs said the Czech Republic can further negotiate about the introduction of the quotas.
"We supported the stance of the Czech government that wanted to defend itself. We are annoyed that the government gave it up," Dolejs said.
He said the Czech government should seek ways to either correct the Brussels decision or not to meet it.
ODS chairman Petr Fiala said the Czech government should join the complaint with the European Court of Justice (ECJ) that Slovakia wants to file over the quotas.
Fiala said the EU cannot say it will decide on similar issues by a qualified majority rather than by a consensus. The case might become precedential, he added.
Last week, a vast majority of the EU interior ministers agreed on the introduction of quotas for the redistribution of asylum seekers across Europe. The Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia voted against the quotas.
Prime Minister Sobotka said the Czech government remains opposed to the quotas, but respects the majority decision. PM Robert Fico said Slovakia would not respect the decision and that it would file a complaint with the Luxembourg court over the issue.
Dolejs said a possible complaint with the ECJ is not the only way to avoid the duty of accepting refugees according to the set quotas.
If Prague does not meet the Brussels dictate, a proceeding will be launched, which gives Prague certain opportunities to insist on its position, Dolejs said.
During the negotiations in Brussels, Sobotka's government did not keep the promises that it gave to the Czech public, Fiala said.
CSSD lower house group deputy chairman Roman Vana dismissed this.
The ANO movement of Finance Minister Andrej Babis wants to talk about the refugee quotas with its coalition partners, the CSSD and the Christian Democrats (KDU-CSL).

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